Alberta legislature reconvenes Tuesday to table Budget 2025

The Alberta legislature will reconvene on Tuesday. The government will then table Budget 2025 and introduce new legislation to streamline regulations, address economic challenges, and strengthen public safety measures.

Budget 2025 and Cost of Living: Income Tax Cut Uncertain

With Budget 2025 set to be released on Feb. 27, questions remain over whether Albertans will see an income tax cut.

Above seasonal temperatures to continue this week 

After the recent cold snap, warm weather is expected to continue this week throughout the Central Alberta region.   

“We're really locked into a flow of warmer flooding across the Rockies and that's pushing our temperatures well above seasonal,” said Brian Proctor, Meteorologist with Environment Canada.  

Throughout the week, daytime highs ranging from 3 to 7 are expected, with overnight lows around freezing, possibly down to –7.   

RCMP holding contest to help name future service dogs

Submitted by cory.knutt on Tue, 02/25/2025 - 12:00

The RCMP's 2025 #NameThePuppy Contest is officially underway.

Canadians between the ages of 4 and 14 are invited to send in their suggestions for names of future RCMP Service Dogs. 

This year, all names must start with the letter "A", be one or two syllables long, and be no more than nine letters long.

Submissions can be made online at www.rcmp.ca/puppy 

One entry per person.

The contest closes March 19, 2025.

Younger Canadians drive trust in AI-generated information, poll indicates

More than a quarter of Canadians — 28 per cent — consider artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT reliable sources of information, a new survey suggests.

Among generation Z Canadians — those born between 1997 and 2012 — 41 per cent say they see AI systems as reliable information sources. That’s not far off from the 49 per cent of gen Z respondents who said they trust stories on news media websites, according to the annual CanTrust Index published by Proof Strategies.

Liberal leadership debate kicks off with questions about threat posed by Trump

He wasn't on the stage but U.S. President Donald Trump's shadow towered over the Liberal leadership race during Monday night's French-language debate.

The candidates — former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former government House leader Karina Gould and former MP Frank Baylis — spent much of the debate talking about the threat Trump poses to Canada's economy and sovereignty.

Carney said that Trump has changed since his first term and is now more "isolationist, more aggressive."

Farmers advised to watch for flea beetles and emerging insect threats

As prairie farmers prepare for the upcoming growing season, entomologist John Gavloski with Manitoba Agriculture is urging them to keep a close eye on flea beetles, an insect that continues to pose challenges for canola growers.

“Flea beetles have been a chronic test for a long time, and I would say just bank on the fact that they're going to be there in high levels,” 

He eXplained that ideal growing conditions could minimize the need for foliar spraying, but if cooler weather lingers and delays plant development, flea beetles could become a much bigger problem.

Town of Bowden releases official statement on controversial billboard

The Town of Bowden has released a statement on a controversial billboard that was on the QEII Highway just outside the town. In a story that Central Alberta Online reported on February 21st, the Mayor of Bowden said that the Town has nothing to do with the advertisement.

On February 18th, The Town of Bowden posted this on their official town website.

The Town is aware of an electronic billboard advertisement that has appeared on northbound Highway 2 promoting a call for Alberta to join the USA.

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